Picture-hanger.



J. A. DARDEN.

PICTURE HANGER.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 24,1909.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

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PICTURE HANGER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24, 1909.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

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Witumw JOHN A. DARDEN, OF GOOD WATER, ALABAMA.

PICTURE-HANGER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1910.

Application filed July 24, 1909. Serial No. 509,309.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DARDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Good Water, in the county of Goosa and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture- Hangers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to a new and useful picture hanger by means of which a picture frame or like object may be supported at any desired angle on a wall or other upright surface.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and practical hanger of this character which may be made to fit a picture of predetermined size or adjustable for applieatlon to different sized pictures or the like and which may be also adjusted to dispose the picture or other object upon it at different angles with respect to the wall in order that observers may view the picture to its best advantage.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel features of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of my im proved picture hanger; Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the hanger applied to a wall and a picture indicated in dotted lines in the hanger; Fig. 3 is a detail view showing one of the lower supporting hooks for the picture; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the non-adjustable form of the invention; and Fig. 5 is a front elevation of still another form having its side bars 24 united by a spring.

My improved picture hanger com rises rear and front frames 1, 2, the former eing adapted to bear against a wall or other flat support W, the latter being adjustably mounted on the rear frame and adapted to support a picture frame or like object indicated at P. These frames, 1, 2 are preferably made from metal bars or rods of suitable size according to the size and weight of the picture to be supported and the rear frame 1 is preferably formed from a single rod by bending the same upon itself at its center to provide an eye 3 to receive a nail, screw or similar fastening F on the wall. From the eye 3 the two branches of the rod extend outwardly and they are then bent downwardly to provide spaced members 4, the lower ends of which are bent upon themselves to provide eyes 5.

The front picture supporting frame 2 consists of two side bars 6 and upper and lower horizontal bars 7, 8, whereby said outer or front frame is somewhat larger than the rear frame 1. The latter is connected to the lower bar 8 of the front frame and to prevent it from shifting on said bar bonds or notches 9 are formed in said bar for the reception of the eyes 5. This construction, it will be noted, forms a pivotal connection between the two frames so that the front or outer one may swing toward and from the rear one. Said front frame 2 may be made non-adjustable, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the device will support a picture of predetermined size, in which case the side bars 6 are bent to provide upper and lower eyes 10, 11 which engage the upper and lower bars or suitable seats or bends in said bars; but i prefer to make said frame 2 adjustable, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to receive picture frames of different sizes. When said frame is made adjustable the upper and lower eyes 12, 13 on the side bars 6 are adapted to slide on the bars 7, 8 and engage any of the longitudinal series of bands or notches 14., 15 formed, respectively, in the upper and lower bars 7, 8. Owing to this construction, it will be seen that the two side bars may be adjusted toward and from each other to vary the width of the frame 2 according to the width of the picture which it is adapted to support.

The picture P is supported at its bottom edge on two bottom hooks 16 formed preferably by bending the lower ends of the side bars 6 forwardly and upwardly, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The picture is prevented from shifting laterally on the frame 2 and is held against the same by means of side hooks 17, one or more of which may be provided on each of the side bars 6. aid hooks 17 may be of any form and construction but they are preferably formed by bending the material forming said bars 6 upon themselves and then bending such portions to form forwardly and inwardly extending hooks, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The projecting ends of the upper and lower bars 7, 8 may be bent to form ornamental loops l8 or said ends of the bars may be ornamented in any other manner and by any desired means. 7

The upper portions of the two frames 1, are adjustably connected so that the angle of inclination of the front picture supporting frame 2 may be varied. This adjustable connection consists of a chain 19 the upper end of which is connected to a centrally arranged bend or notch 20 on the upper bar 7 and the lower end of which is connected to the eye 3. A take-up link 21 is preferably used in connection with the chain for the purpose of varying its length and thereby adjusting the angle of the frame 2. Said link has its ends bent upon itself to provide hooks 22 which may engage any of the links of the chain to take it up or let it out, as will be readily understood on reference to the drawings.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings 23 denotes a coil spring the'ends of which are connected to the intermediate portions of the two side bars 24: of the front picture supporting frame and which is adapted to prevent said bars from spreading. This spring 23 also makes the device adjustable to receive pictures of different sizes within certain limits and the adjustment is effected without the use of the bends or notches 1e, 15, as in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. It will be noted that the spring 23 together with the flexibility or resiliency of the side bars 6 permits said side bars to be pulledapart so that their hooks may be engaged with the opposite side edges of different sized pictures or frames, and when said bars are released the spring 23 holds their hooks firmly engaged with the picture or frame. It will also be understood that, if desired, the spring 23 may be used. on the other forms of the invention above described.

In using the invention, the bottom edge of the picture frame or like object is engaged with the hooks 16 and the side bars 6 are adjusted in the proper pairs of notches or bends 1a, 15 according to the size of the picture, so that the hooks 17 engage the side edges of the same. It will be understood that the bends or notches 14, 15 are arranged at different distances apart according tothe commercial sizes of frames or pictures. The eye 3 of the rear frame 1 is then engaged with a nail, screw or other fastening, on the wall W and by adjusting the length of the chain 19 by means of the take-up link 21, the front. frame 2 may be supported at any desired inclination with respect to the wall. It will be seen that when the device is not in use the two frames may be folded together to occupy but little s ace.

VVhile I have shown and described in detail the preferred embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction set forth, since various changes in the form, proportion and arrangement of parts anddetails of construction maybe resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is: V 1. A picture hanger comprising a rear frame adapted to be secured to a wall or the like, a front supporting frame to swing from the rear frame, a chain connecting the upper portions of the two frames and a take-up link having hook-shaped ends for adjustable engagement with the links of the chain.

2. A picture hanger comprising a rear frame adapted to be secured to a wall or the like, a front supporting frame to swing from the rear frame, lower hooks on the front frame to engage the bottom of the picture, side hooks on the front frame to engage the sides of the picture, and connection between the upper portions of the two frames for holding the front one at any angle with respect to the rear one.

3. A picture hanger comprising a rear frame adapted to be secured to a wall or the like, a front supporting frame to swing from the rear frame, said front frame consisting of upper and lower bars and side bars, means whereby said side bars may be adjusted longitudinally 011 the upper and lower bars, means carried by said side bars to engage and support a picture or the like 7 l bars, whereby said side bars are adjustable longitudinally on the. upper andlower bars, bottom and side supportinghooks on said side bars, and an adjustable connection between the upper portions: of the two frames 8 for supporting the front frame at any angle c withv respect. to the rear one.

5. A picture hanger comprising a rear frame adapted tobe secured to a wallor the like, a front supporting frame to. swing from the rear frame, said front frame consisting of up er and lower horizontal bars frames for supporting the front frame at an 10 formed with ongitudinal series of notches angle with respect to the rear one.

and side bars having eyes to engage said In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my notches of the upper and lower bars, wheresignature in the presence of two witnesses.

by said side bars are adjustable lon 'itudinally on the upper and lower bars, and JOHN DARDEN' means carried by the front frame for en- \Vitnesses:

gaging a picture or the like, and a connec- T. P. CRANFORD,

tion between the upper portions of the two E. D. EsPnY. 

